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PROPOSED CONTRACT
Department(s): Conservation and Experiential Programming
Vendor: Judy Pollock Consulting, Evanston, Illinois
Request: Authorization for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (“the Preserves”) to enter into and execute
Good(s) or Service(s): Professional services for Phase II of the Bird the Preserves initiative
Contract Value: $20,000.00
Contract period: 5/12/2017-5/12/2018
Estimated Fiscal Impact: FY 2017 20,000; 100% funded by the Forest Preserve Foundation
Accounts: 51010.521314
Contract Number(s): N/A
Concurrences:
The Chief Financial Officer and Chief Attorney have approved this item.
District(s): Districtwide
Summary: This project continues the successful “Bird the Preserves” initiative that was launched in 2015, through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via Chicago Wilderness. This grant-funded initiative connects diverse communities to the Preserves by expanding birding programs and activities, and strives to establish the Preserves as a premier birding destination in the Chicago Wilderness region. Because of the project’s enormous success, the Preserves has sought and secured funding from the Forest Preserve Foundation for Phase II of Bird the Preserves. Phase II will build on the initiative’s programmatic and partner building success and momentum, while developing a process for sustaining the initiative into future years at the Preserves.
Judy Pollock will provide support for Phase II of the Bird the Preserves initiative. Specific deliverables include:
• Continue the programmatic and marketing initiatives developed in Bird the Preserves Phase I, including partner-led bird walks and the Big Sit, pursue the engagement of new birders, and continue to serve as a resource to bird groups, providing information to the Preserves for birding events for the Preserves seasonal brochures.
• Will provide a report that will include a series of recommendations for how this work and these partnerships can continue in the future.
• Connect Bird the Preserves participants to volunteer opportunities at restoration sites and develop, a plan for ongoing promotion of restoration workdays to birders and birding groups.
• Incorporate and promote best practices for bird habitat into Conservation@Home, the Preserves’ newly developed initiative that encourages homeowners to transform their yards with native plants and practices that conserve water and provide habitat for native birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
• Support a celebration of International Migratory Bird Day at LaBagh Woods on May 20, 2017 and other bird related events.
A completed report at the end of the contract will include recommendations for sustaining Bird the Preserves as an ongoing programmatic component of the Preserves and will take into consideration partners’ needs and the Preserves resource capacity. At the end of the project, the Preserves will have a better understanding of the birding community’s interest in continued partnerships with the Preserves and recommendations on how to maintain those relationships.
Judy Pollock Consulting is a sole source provider of this service because of her unique access to the birding community, knowledge of birding in Cook County, knowledge of bird conservation and her extensive work in all of these areas. Judy Pollock has spent many years working on birding, bird science and bird conservation in the Chicago area. Judy Pollock was one of the Founders of the Bird Conservation Network Survey, she was director of Audubon Chicago Region (the regional office for the Chicago Area) for fifteen (15) years and her work has focused on building capacity by birding groups, local communities and government agencies to enhance bird conservation efforts. Judy Pollock serves as a board member or as an advisor on bird conservation and natural area issues to the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and Chicago Audubon. She founded Wild Indigo Nature Explorations, a Southside community engagement project that won the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials Award in 2014. Judy Pollock recently won an award for her work in conservation and community from the American Birding Association. Judy Pollock has published several bird conservation plans and articles since 2000. The Preserves entered into a contract with Judy Pollock for Phase I, and it is important for the continuation and success of the initiative that she be brought back to complete Phase II.
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